think i killed the alt
think i killed the alt riding down to VA beach i was blasting the system the whole way, now not only can i not hear anymore, the gauge doesnt want to read higher than 12v, i also checked the gauge on the capacitor and it also reads 12v with the car running and everything off, i'll check to see if it is charging tomorrow but looks like i may have killed it...
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Unplug the alternator while it's running, see if that changes the volts, or unplug the battery (if you don't mind losing stereo presets).
While running, unplugging the alt will show if it's running off the battery, the volts won't change, or won't change very much.
Disconnecting the battery will do the same, if the alt is shot, the car will die because it's running off the battery.
I think my alt is gone too, OR my gauge is. Sometimes it shows over-volting, sometimes it shows just at or under 13v, and sometimes it shows perfect 14v~
While running, unplugging the alt will show if it's running off the battery, the volts won't change, or won't change very much.
Disconnecting the battery will do the same, if the alt is shot, the car will die because it's running off the battery.
I think my alt is gone too, OR my gauge is. Sometimes it shows over-volting, sometimes it shows just at or under 13v, and sometimes it shows perfect 14v~
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
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From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Best thing to do, is get a volt meter and put it on the battery posts, read the voltage, and then start the car and do that again. Should be 13.5-14.5v
Easiest to do, is bring the car up to Checker/Shucks/Kragen auto, or I think Advanced too, and they can use their tester. It's a handheld they just clip onto the battery terminals and it runs some tests.
Easiest to do, is bring the car up to Checker/Shucks/Kragen auto, or I think Advanced too, and they can use their tester. It's a handheld they just clip onto the battery terminals and it runs some tests.
Thats not an accurate way to check to check it. With the engine running if it is not charging a minimum of 13v then the alternator is dead no questions to ponder. But before after you replace it be sure to either buy a new battery or charge your old one on slow for a half day or so to bring it back to life. If you put a new alternator on a dead battery it will kill your new one PDQ. It will burn up the diodes and voltage regulatorin short order.
